WO1998031615B1 - Detachable material handling tray with automatic parcel ejection mechanism - Google Patents

Detachable material handling tray with automatic parcel ejection mechanism

Info

Publication number
WO1998031615B1
WO1998031615B1 PCT/US1998/001031 US9801031W WO9831615B1 WO 1998031615 B1 WO1998031615 B1 WO 1998031615B1 US 9801031 W US9801031 W US 9801031W WO 9831615 B1 WO9831615 B1 WO 9831615B1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
platform
conveyor
retaining members
base structure
platform member
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1998/001031
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO1998031615A1 (en
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US08/786,246 external-priority patent/US5890584A/en
Application filed filed Critical
Priority to DE69826689T priority Critical patent/DE69826689T2/en
Priority to JP53463998A priority patent/JP3349709B2/en
Priority to EP98902820A priority patent/EP1009690B1/en
Priority to CA002278283A priority patent/CA2278283C/en
Priority to AT98902820T priority patent/ATE277845T1/en
Publication of WO1998031615A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998031615A1/en
Publication of WO1998031615B1 publication Critical patent/WO1998031615B1/en

Links

Abstract

A conveyor system (10) is provided including a platform (40) for attachment to a conveyor (70) which may be utilized for transporting items of various sizes and weights to designated output destinations along the conveyor (10). The platforms (40) may be used for the transporting of objects only or may include a variety of conveyor equipment such as baskets, parts bins or parcel ejection mechanisms (150). The system utilizes a plurality of hinged (50) conveyor trays (40) which are connected to an underlying conveyor (70) via a plurality of flexible edge retainer members (80) that secure the edges of the platforms (60) to the underlying conveyor surface (70) and isolate adjacent platforms (40) from each other. The platforms (40) are secured in place by a medially located center locking mechanism (103, 105, 110). The system may utilize a conventional belt conveyor (70) onto which the platforms (40) are connected. Ejection mechanisms (150) may be built in or attached to the platforms (40) for diverting objects from the upper surface of the platforms (40) to desired locations.

Claims

21 AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 24 July 1998 (24.07.98); original claims 1-4, 6-11, 13-31 amended; remaining claims unchanged (6 pages)]
1. A package conveyor, comprising: a conveyor base structure; adjacent first and second platform members each defining an upwardly-directed package support surface and leading and trailing edges; and first, second, and third adjacent platform retaining members attached to said conveyor base structure for movement therewith, said first and second platform retaining members configured to detachably accept and retain the corresponding said leading and trailing edges of said first platform member, and said second and third platform retaining members configured to accept and detachably retain the corresponding said leading and trailing edges of said second platform member, said second platform retaining member positioned intermediate said first and third platform retaining members and configured to detachably retain said trailing edge of said first platform member independent of the detachable retention of the leading edge of said second platform member, such that either of the first and second platform members may be disengaged from said second platform retaining member and relative to said conveyor base structure without requiring the disengagement of the other.
2. The conveyor of Claim 1, wherein said first, second, and third adjacent platform retaining members each have an upper surface being substantially continuous with the upper surfaces of said first and second platform members.
3. The conveyor of Claim 1, wherein said first platform member includes a pivotable connection allowing its leading and trailing edges to be movably retractable so as to be closer together to allow disengagement from said first and second platform retaining members. 22
4. The conveyor of Claim 3, wherein said first platform member further comprises first and second panels, and wherein said pivotable connection is provided by a hinge intermediate and connecting said two panels.
5. The conveyor of Claim 1, wherein said conveyor base structure is an endless flexible belt and said platform retaining members are attached to the top of said conveyor base structure.
6. The conveyor of Claim 1, wherein said platform retaining members are platform edge retaining members and extend substantially the width of the conveyor base structure.
7. The conveyor of Claim 1, wherein said platform member further comprises an ejection mechanism for discharging objects from atop said upwardly-directed package support surface defining by said platform member.
8. A conveyor, comprising: a conveyor base structure; a platform member defining an upwardly-directed package support surface; and platform retaining members attached to said conveyor base structure and defining at least two co-facing slots, said platform member having opposing edges fitting into said slots such that the conveyor base structure carries said platform member.
9. The conveyor of Claim 8, wherein said platform retaining members have an upper surface being substantially continuous with the upper surface of said platform member.
10. The conveyor of Claim 8, wherein said platform member includes a pivotable connection allowing its edges to be movably separable and retractable to allow selective engagement with said slots. 23
11. The conveyor of Claim 10, wherein said platform member further comprises first and second panels, and wherein said pivotable connection is provided by a hinge intermediate and connecting said two panels.
12. The conveyor of Claim 8, wherein said conveyor base structure is an endless flexible belt and said platform retaining members are attached to the top of said conveyor base structure.
13. The conveyor of Claim 8, wherein said platform retaining members are platform edge retaining members and extend substantially the width of the conveyor base structure.
14. The conveyor of Claim 8, wherein said platform member further comprises an ejection mechanism for discharging objects from said platform member.
15. A conveyor comprising: a flexible conveyor belt; platform retaining members attached to one side of said conveyor belt; a platform member comprising pivotably connected first and second panels pivotably connected along a pivot axis, said platform member including leading and trailing edges; and a conveyor belt drive means configured to drive said conveyor belt, platform retaining members, and platform member such that said platform can flex along its pivot axis.
16. The conveyor of Claim 15, wherein said pivotable connection is provided by a hinge intermediate and connecting said two panels.
17. The conveyor of Claim 15, wherein said platform retaining members define cofacing slots for accepting said leading and trailing edges of said platform member. 24
18. The conveyor as claimed in Claim 17, wherein said platform member includes a pivotable connection allowing its leading and trailing edges to be movably separable and retractable to allow selective engagement with said slots.
19. The conveyor of Claim 18, wherein said pivotable connection is provided by a hinge intermediate and connecting said two panels.
20. The conveyor of Claim 17, wherein said platform retaining members are platform edge retaining members and extend substantially the width of the conveyor base structure.
21. The conveyor of Claim 17, wherein said platform retaining members have an upper surface being substantially continuous with the upper surface of said platform member.
22. The conveyor of Claim 15, further comprising a flexible platform locking means for securing said platform member to said conveyor base structure separate from one of said platform edges attaching at least one of said panels relative to said base structure.
23. The conveyor of Claim 22, wherein said platform locking means comprises: a platform locking pin attached to a lower surface of said platform member medially of said platform member; and a platform locking pin receptor attached to said conveyor base structure for receiving said platform locking pin. 25
24. A conveyor comprising: a flexible conveyor belt; two platform retaining members attached to one side of said conveyor belt; a platform member comprising pivotably connected first and second panels pivotably connected along a pivot axis, said platform member including leading and trailing edges; a center locking pin intermediate and attaching said first panel and said conveyor belt; and a conveyor belt drive means configured to drive said conveyor belt, platform retaining members, and platform member such that said platform member can flex along its pivot axis.
25. The conveyor of Claim 24, wherein said pivotable connection is provided by a hinge intermediate and connecting said two panels.
26. The conveyor as claimed in Claim 24, wherein said platform retaining members define cofacing slots for accepting leading and trailing edges of said platform member.
27. The conveyor as claimed in Claim 24, wherein said platform member includes a pivotable connection allowing its edges to be movably separable and retractable to allow selective engagement with said slots.
28. The conveyor of Claim 27, wherein said pivotable connection is provided by a hinge intermediate and connecting said two panels.
29. The conveyor of Claim 26, wherein said platform retaining members are platform edge retainers and extend substantially the width of the conveyor base structure. 26
30. The conveyor of Claim 26, wherein said platform retaining members have an upper surface being substantially continuous with the upper surface of said platform member.
31. The conveyor of Claim 24, wherein said center locking pin is part of a platform locking means for securing said platform member to said conveyor base structure separate from one of said platform edges attaching at least one of said panels relative to said base structure.
32. The conveyor of Claim 31, wherein said platform locking means comprises said platform locking pin attached to a lower surface of said platform medially of said platform, and further comprising a platform locking pin receptor attached to said conveyor base structure for receiving said platform locking pin.
PCT/US1998/001031 1997-01-22 1998-01-20 Detachable material handling tray with automatic parcel ejection mechanism WO1998031615A1 (en)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE69826689T DE69826689T2 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-20 CONVEYOR WITH REMOVABLE MATERIAL SUPPORT
JP53463998A JP3349709B2 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-20 Removable cargo handling tray with automatic baggage discharge mechanism
EP98902820A EP1009690B1 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-20 Conveyor with detachable material handling tray
CA002278283A CA2278283C (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-20 Detachable material handling tray with automatic parcel ejection mechanism
AT98902820T ATE277845T1 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-20 CONVEYOR WITH REMOVABLE MATERIAL CARRIER

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/786,246 1997-01-22
US08/786,246 US5890584A (en) 1997-01-22 1997-01-22 Detachable material handling tray with automatic parcel ejection mechanism

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998031615A1 WO1998031615A1 (en) 1998-07-23
WO1998031615B1 true WO1998031615B1 (en) 1998-09-17

Family

ID=25138046

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1998/001031 WO1998031615A1 (en) 1997-01-22 1998-01-20 Detachable material handling tray with automatic parcel ejection mechanism

Country Status (9)

Country Link
US (1) US5890584A (en)
EP (1) EP1009690B1 (en)
JP (1) JP3349709B2 (en)
AT (1) ATE277845T1 (en)
CA (1) CA2278283C (en)
DE (1) DE69826689T2 (en)
DK (1) DK1009690T3 (en)
ES (1) ES2229471T3 (en)
WO (1) WO1998031615A1 (en)

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